Oxalic acid (
fizachem.com/oxalic-acid.html) is a critical organic dicarboxylic acid, pivotal in various industrial and scientific domains, from petrochemicals and metallurgy to pharmaceuticals and advanced materials processing. This comprehensive guide delves into the latest
Oxalic acid industry trends, detailed production processes, key technical parameters, applications, supplier comparison, and best practices supported by data, charts, and real-world use cases.
1. Overview & Industry Trends
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Global Market Size: In 2023, the global Oxalic Acid market size was valued at USD 722 million (MarketsandMarkets), projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.5% (2024–2028).
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Dominant Use Sectors: Major demand comes from metallurgy (27%), pharmaceuticals & chemicals (22%), dye & textile treatment (18%), and rare earth processing (15%).
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Emerging Applications: Battery/energy storage, specialty polymers/bioplastics, microelectronics cleaning, and green catalysis.
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Regulatory Trends: Oxalic acid manufacturing aligns with ISO 9001 quality systems, complies with REACH (EU), and in some cases, FDA food-contact standards; increasingly subject to environmental emissions evaluation.
Global Oxalic Acid End-Use Market Share (2023)
2. Manufacturing Process Flow of Oxalic Acid
The leading industrial manufacture of Oxalic acid utilizes the oxidation of carbohydrates (notably glucose or cellulose) or the carbonylation of alcohols under catalytic conditions. Advanced facilities aim for process efficiency, purity, and eco-friendly waste management. Below is a schematic workflow:
Feedstock Preparation
(Glucose, CO, Nitric acid)
→
Catalytic Oxidation
(80-100°C, Catalyst/Pressure)
→
Crystallization
(Chilling & Solvent Recovery)
→
Purification & Drying
(Filtration, Calcination)
→
Packing & QA
(ISO/ANSI QC, Packaging)
Schematic: Continuous production line integrating reactor, crystallizer, filter (ISO 9001-compliant)
3. Key Technical Specifications of Oxalic Acid
Specifications Table – Oxalic Acid (Industrial/Analytical Grades)
Parameter |
Value / Range |
Industrial Standard |
Test Method |
Relevance |
Purity (assay) |
≥99.6% (dry basis) |
ISO 9001, GB/T 1626 |
Titrimetry (Potassium permanganate) |
Reactivity, product safety |
Moisture |
< 0.2% |
GB/T 6283 |
Oven drying, KF test |
Storage, caking |
Insoluble Matter |
< 0.02% |
ISO 6353 |
Filtration test |
Filtration performance |
Heavy Metals (Pb, Fe, etc.) |
< 10 ppm |
USP, Ph. Eur. |
ICP-OES/AAS |
Pharma/sensitive use |
pH (5% solution) |
0.8 – 1.6 |
In-house/ISO |
Electrometric |
Cleaning, catalysis efficacy |
Appearance |
Colorless crystal/powder |
Visual |
Visual |
Purity, handling |
Melting Point |
188 – 190°C |
ISO 3146 |
Capillary tube |
Thermal suitability |
CAS Number |
144-62-7 |
– |
Registry |
Global trade & compliance |
Oxalic Acid Purity Levels: Industrial vs Analytical Grades
4. Application Scenarios & Technical Advantages of Oxalic Acid
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Metallurgy:
As a selective leaching agent (complexation of metal ions), Oxalic acid enables high-purity recovery of rare earths (Nd, La, Y) and separation of uranium/vanadium ores. Its strong reducing and chelating properties efficiently dissolve metal oxides with minimal secondary pollution.
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Chemical Cleaning:
Due to its acidic strength and ability to form soluble oxalates, Oxalic acid is widely adopted for deposition/scale removal in heat exchangers (petrochemical), boiler feedwater systems, and microelectronics wet cleaning. ISO 14001-compliant operators benefit from high cleaning yield (>99%) with low corrosion risk.
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Textiles & Dyes:
Used in bleaching, color fixing, and as a mordant, especially where bright white cellulose or dye precision is needed; achieves uniform results with low environmental footprint (Elsevier 2022).
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Pharmaceuticals:
Serves as an API intermediate and for purification of active ingredients. Its precise acid-base equilibrium (pKa1=1.27, pKa2=4.28) suits pH-controlled syntheses.
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Battery, Polymers, and Advanced Materials:
New-generation applications leverage Oxalic acid in precursor synthesis (LiFePO₄ cathodes, carbon composites) and surface functionalization of polymers.
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Environmental Remediation:
Promotes in-situ chelation for heavy metal soil/groundwater treatment, often meeting US EPA and EU environmental standards.
Oxalic Acid – Typical Performance Comparison: Cleaning, Leaching & Purity
5. Supplier Comparison: Oxalic Acid Manufacturers/Brands
Supplier/Brand |
Production Capacity (t/a) |
Purity (%) |
Certifications |
Unique Features |
Lead Time |
FIZA ChemicalISO 9001 |
42,000 |
99.6–99.9 |
REACH, SGS, ISO 9001 |
Integrated QC; Ultra-low heavy metals; Custom packing; Rapid response |
7–15 days |
Shandong Fengyuan |
36,000 |
99.6 |
ISO 9001, GB/T 1626 |
Food/pharma grade; REACH |
10–15 days |
GMMCO (India) |
22,000 |
99.5 |
ISO 9001, FSSC |
B2B logistics; Asia-Pacific hub |
9–20 days |
Oxaquim (Spain) |
30,000 |
99.4–99.6 |
ISO 22000, REACH |
EU local stock; EN standards |
12–18 days |
6. Custom Solutions, Certifications & Service Capabilities
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Customization: Oxalic acid suppliers like FIZA Chemical offer tailored purity levels, particle sizing (50–500 mesh), moisture control, and drum/IBC/bulk packing based on end-user process needs.
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Manufacturing/Inspection Standards: Adoption of ISO 9001/14001 QMS, ANSI/ASTM E70 for analytical validation, and SGS/Intertek third-party audits; food or pharmaceutical certification as required.
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Supply Chain & Traceability: Every batch traceable via QR/barcode; COA/MSDS provided; 24/7 shipment visibility for global clients.
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Technical Service: Process consulting, application-driven formulation, and on-site support for integration of Oxalic acid into customer operations.
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Warranty: 12–24 months product warranty; performance guarantee on purity and compliance.
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Partners & References:
15+ years servicing 40+ countries.
7. Application Case Studies
Case 1: Rare Earth Leaching in Bayan Obo, China
Leading operator implemented high-purity Oxalic acid (≥99.85%) for rare-earth precipitation, achieving selectivity ratio increase by 12% and output cost reduction (by $85/ton). Heavy metal effluent below 0.8 mg/L (EPA standard).
Case 2: Boiler Scale Removal in Petrochemical Plant (Middle East)
Routine cleaning with 5 wt% Oxalic acid slashed shutdown times by 20%, while equipment integrity (verified per ANSI N45.2) improved maintenance intervals to >2 years.
Case 3: Textile Bleaching – Europe
Shift to eco-grade Oxalic acid reduced chemical COD by 40%, while color brightness in cotton finishing was enhanced (CIEL*a*b* index increase of 6.2).
Case 4: Pharmaceutical Purification
Oxalic acid as a reagent in cGMP APIs synthesis (FDA/EMEA-audited facility) enabled a 1.6% yield increase, with impurity content .
8. Professional FAQs on Oxalic Acid
Q1: What is the optimal material selection for Oxalic acid storage tanks?
Material must resist acidic/chelating action—commonly 316L stainless steel, PTFE, or PE-lined vessels per ASTM D543 standard.
Q2: Which purity specification is suitable for pharmaceutical synthesis?
Analytical/pharmaceutical grade ≥99.9% (USP/Ph. Eur. certified) is recommended to minimize heavy metals/organic trace contaminants.
Q3: Are there standardized test methods for verifying assay and impurities?
Yes. ISO 6353, ASTM E70, and titrimetry with potassium permanganate are globally recognized techniques for Oxalic acid characterization.
Q4: What are the recommended installation standards for automated dosing?
Refer to ANSI/ISA S88 (batch control) and ISO 10628 (P&ID instrumentation) for precise Oxalic acid dosing/skid integration.
Q5: Does Oxalic acid have a shelf life, and how should it be stored?
Typical shelf life: 24 months when kept tightly sealed in dry, ventilated spaces below 25°C, away from alkalis/metals.
Q6: Is Oxalic acid safe for use in food-contact or pharma applications?
When manufactured and certified to FCC, Ph. Eur., or FDA 21CFR 184.1005, Oxalic acid is approved for selective food/pharma applications under strict control.
Q7: What is the typical delivery/lead time and packaging?
Normal lead time: 7–15 working days, with packing formats: 25kg bags, 500kg FIBC, or custom drums/ISO-tanks; all labeled with CAS 144-62-7.
9. Delivery, Warranty, and Customer Support
- Delivery Time: 7–15 days (ex-works) for standard lots; urgent orders or regulatory/custom requirements can be expedited on demand.
- Warranty: 12–24 months against chemical & physical degradation under recommended storage.
- Support: Dedicated technical support; on-site integration; 24h response guarantee via phone/email, plus MSDS/COA/traceability archive for each batch.
- Certifications: ISO 9001, SGS, REACH; with third-party audit available upon request.
Conclusion & Industry References
Oxalic acid has evolved into a versatile chemical pillar in industries prioritizing selectivity, process efficiency, and regulatory safety. As market demand advances toward greener and higher-purity solutions, both manufacturers and users benefit from tailoring Oxalic acid to technical and certification needs. Next-gen applications—batteries, environmental remediation, precision chemicals—will further drive its adoption. For in-depth specifications, custom samples, or partnership interest, visit
FIZA Chemical: Oxalic acid.